Coeliac Suspicions

[peppansalt]

Took 10 yo DS to GP yesterday. For months he's had greasy, yellow diarrhoea with undigested food in it. No stomach ache or bloating but he is skinny and complains of being tired.

The GP has ordered bloods but has also recommend DS goes gluten free for a month to see if it makes any difference but I'm wondering if that is correct advice? Everything I've read says you must stay on gluten in order to get a clear result.

Can anyone advise on the right course of action?

I'm currently waiting for blood test results to come back after having the blood test for coeliac and have been told not to stop eating gluten. Even if the test comes back positive I was told they need to confirm with a biopsy and it will only work if you have been eating gluten every day for 6 weeks.

If I were you I would check with the gp about whether they would need further tests before cutting gluten out of your sons diet.

Absolutely definitely keep eating gluten until after the blood test. Then you need to decide what you do next. You need to find out if a positive blood test result will be deemed sufficient for a diagnosis, or if he'll need an endoscopy/biopsies as well to confirm diagnosis. If you go on the allergies board, there will be parents of coeliac children who will know more than I do, there are some guidelines on what they do with kids. I would personally caution against just going gluten free like your GP suggests. I did this following a negative blood test, had instant dramatic improvement by going GF, (and would know almost immediately when I'd had some) but have decided I need to know for sure if I am coeliac or not, so have to phone up next week to book endoscopy and eat gluten for 6 weeks. Can't say as how I'm looking forward to the consequences.... I've been GF for nearly 2 years now.

Shocked and angry that there are still Doctors giving this advice.
Unless you've had
A) a positive result of the blood test
B) confirmation that as a child the biopsy normally required for full diagnosis can be bypassed
Or
C) positive biopsy
Then do not go gluten free before diagnosis.

Caroline Quentin did a video blog of her gluten challenge which she underwent after having gone GF in order to get a definitive diagnosis. It does not sound pretty, and I'm so glad I got the correct advice for DS2.

www.coeliac.org.au/news-stories/poisoning-by-gluten/

crikey, am amazed GP advise to eliminate gluten! I did ask whether it would affect the screening and he was adamant it wouldn't .

I guess it has taken me this long to get DS tested as I was under the assumption you were REALLY ill if you had Coeliacs. I,e, vomiting, constant diarrhoea etc. His symptoms seem to be at a lower level but he's definitely not right.

My mother was diagnosed in her 70s and her only symptoms were anaemia and heartburn.